Hedgehog Feeding Station

After making the hedgehog house next was a feeder. This is better enclosed as cats and foxes can't get the food.

As you can see from the picture the internal wall stops anything else reaching in.

All it needs now is a waterproof cover ands its good to go

Petrol can ferret box

While mouching about with the dog, I came across a chap walking with a useful looking bedlington lurcher and a plastic petrol can. Coming alongside I could see the petrol can had been converted into a ferret carrying box. A clever way to carry the ferret .

Hedgehog house

As I was putting the dog out last night we saw a hedge hog carrying her young. So I thought it was time I built a hedgehog house. I started with an old paint bucket.

And then I cut it in half, next I cut a board to fix to the front.

I made a wooden tunnel seven inches long and a tunnel width of four inches. This is to stop cats and foxes scooping out the hedgehog. 

From the websites I researched it seemed a good idea to provide lots of insulation so I covered with waterproof material and buried the whole thing under a bush in the corner of the garden.

Update 2016.  The hedgehogs have been with us all Winter and summer and have been using the house which is now completely overgrown.  Hedgehog wanders round the garden in the evening feasting on slugs and snails, of which I have in abundance. 

Mackerel Fishing

While picnicking on Budleigh beach we noticed shoals of mackerel chasing small bait fish. We went back early the next morning just before high tide  Llinos was using feathers and casting when the shoals went by. She pulled them in four at a time. I was using a spinning rod which obviously caught fewer but significantly bigger fish.
This is the only time I have ever seen fish shoal in this way.

Mindful Fishing

I have recently learnt mindfulness. A technique for lowering stress. The large part of mindfulness is given over to meditation   I was struck by howuch this state is like the one I enter when fishing. That relaxed exterior  and totally focused mind waiting for the take. Perhaps this is why most fishermen are calm.

Westies Hunting

Walking the Foster  Westies we were working our way through a field full of rushes when they pounced and chopped a half grown bunny. The Westies have been 
obviously used to hunting as they immediately grabbed the rabbit and worried it. 
Its a good job the wife was no there to see here beloved white fluffy lap dogs, 
covered in blood. 

I wonder if the ladies who adore and pamper these little dogs realise that 
lurking beneath that neatly trimmed coat lies the heart of a killer. 

Westies were originally dogs which would take on anything, up to a badger. 
Despite the in breeding and usual Kennel Club stunts the Westie has remained a 
hearty game little dog. It is now useless in rain as its coat cannot push out 
rain and many have weak jaws which mean they would never hold quarry. 

The two I have at the moment are thankfully an exception to the usual run of the 
mill. 

They love rabbiting but are incredibly stubborn and will not leave a hedge that 
they are convinced a rabbit is in; even when the rabbit has long gone.  I don't suppose these will catch on as hunting terriers ever again as there are far better breeds of terrier out there, but it was good to see them hunt and remember their origins. 

Senility at Sunny View

For a change Evan and I decided to go course fishing.  We found that Sunny Ridge Fishery was close by and that was really the main deciding factor, plus the excellent fishing shop at Exmoth had recommended it.

It was sunny when we arrived, and in March this is a good thing.  However I fancied a place over by the inflow, which was in the shade.  First mistake of the day.  Old bones need warmth.  Evan and I set up two rods float and one rod method feeder.

 Then horror of horrors I noticed that we did not have the net with us.  As we were pondering the onset of mind loss in the ol man, My float firmly went under and I hooked into a 10-14lb Carp.  Up it came through the murk and rolled on the surface,  I sent Evan to borrow a net, but this proved unnecessary as the Carp took off,  and I failed to hold her and she broke my line.

For the rest of the session we caught rudd and Dace, which was better than nothing but not the Carp we were hoping for. But there again we could not land them anyway.  Getting back to the car, there was the net on the floor.  Ahhhh!

Fishing Shops

Choice and Stress

I suppose like most red blooded men I have a deep abiding loathing for shopping, but there is one kind of shop I am happy to go to; the fishing tackle shop.  In Exmouth we have the wonderful Exmouth Bait and Tackle shop right on the strand.  The other day I called in to buy bait for Carp fishing, and ended up buying a load of other stuff I didnt know I needed till I went in.  It got me thinking: What makes a good tackle shop?

First on the list must come range of tackle available.  There is a fine line here between having a good choice for your inclination and pocket and being overwhelmed with choice to the point where it leads to anxiety. Having the choice between 4 or 5 different baits is nice having to choose between 20 that all look the same and promise the same thing (to catch the biggest carp of your life) is fraught with stress. Its one of the secrets to life too!  More choice is not always good,  learning to put self imposed limits on yourself leads to a drop in stress.

A good tackle shop must be place where you feel welcome.  A few fishing stores I have been in have been so sterile and scientific I felt embarrassed at my ignorance of the latest developments in piscian detainment and hurried out as soon as possible.  To be fair these shops are usually the factory shops of a particular fishing manufacturer and rank amateurs such as my self should not visit.  I tend to find the reception the same in Starbucks or Costa when I go in and ask for a large coffee.  There's that slight sneer in the spotty teenagers voice as he, slows his voice to speak to the old duffer, and informs me that perhaps what I wants is an Americano with milk.  We are back to more choice more stress.

The good tackle shop does the exact opposite and welcomes you in as a friend among friends and has time to discuss life the universe and everything before worrying about choice of kit.  I like this approach.  It can't be faked and those who own shops like these not only love fishing they love people.  I am sure marketing gurus have tried for years to teach sincerity but, thankfully it can't be taught and its easy to spot when its faked.  Exmouth Bait and tackle has this warth of welcome in spades and even has a resident cat, and animal about in a shop always makes me feel at home and I am much more likely to stay and peruse and find things I didn't know I needed till I saw them.  Camouflage bait buckets!  How have I ever lived without them?  Now then Real Tree, Oak Wood or Reed, more choice again.

Exe Valley Fishery

A wonderful day at the Exe Fishery. My son and I arrived by 1030 and between us we caught six really good hard fighting rainbows.

As usual at the Exe the fish were holding in the deep water at the bottom of the lake.  As it warmed up they rose in the water and a floating line with a gold head seemed to do the trick today.  We caught on Cats Whisker, and orange goldhead.

I find that a long shank hook with a tungsten bead gets the lure moving fast down through the water, the orange fritz body provides plenty of movement and sparkle, the orange marabou tail again gives plenty of movement.

We fished the lures with foot long steady pulls.  Takes were very soft and Evan and I missed a good few because of this.

  My 4 and half pound fish, Evans 3 ib fish and Evan playing him in.